On June 26, 2015, the United States made, as President Obama stated, “a big step in our march toward equality.” The Alliance celebrates this momentous occasion of marriage equality. The Supreme Court, in issuing this ruling, sends a powerful message that LGBTQ families in the United States deserve to be treated equally and with respect in all facets of life - in our schools, communities, workplaces, and homes.

There is still much to do and more to fight for. We must continue to fight for LGBTQ youth voices to ensure that schools and communities are safe and affirming for young people. We must continue to address pervasive youth homelessness and abuse. We must ensure trans and gender expansive youth have the basic legal protections in their schools to learn in a safe and affirming environment. We must continue to ensure queer families are safe and have legal protections nationwide in their homes and at their workplaces. As Justice Kennedy stated, "The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times. The generations that wrote and ratified the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment did not presume to know the extent of freedom in all of its dimensions, and so they entrusted to future generations a charter protecting the right of all persons to enjoy liberty as we learn its meaning.”

As we prepare for pride festivities across Illinois, let us celebrate our accomplishments and rally for the work that lies ahead. Thank you for being a part of our work and for allowing us to celebrate this historic victory with you!

With Pride,The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance

The Alliance was honored to be part of this year's spectacular Chicago Pride Parade in partnership with Wells Fargo.